Introducing the July Block of the Month

Red Cross* block is the July Fat Quarter Mystery Quilt Block. Like all blocks in this year’s block of the month challenge, this block is 15″ (finished size) and is created using quick strip-piecing techniques. Simple!

During this 12-month block of the month challenge, all blocks will be made from one 24-piece fat quarter bundle and 2-1/4 yards of cream background fabric. We’re using the fat quarter bundle, Garnet,it’s my most recent fabric line from Penny Rose, a division of Riley Blake Designs. You’re definitely welcome to use another collection of fabric, or fabrics from your stash!

Choose the Fabrics

For the Red Crossblock, select the following fabrics from your Garnet fat-quarter bundle. If you’ve chosen another fabric collection, select two medium tones, one dark tone, one light tone, and the background fabric, for a total of five fabrics.

Cut

Four 3-1/2″ x 6-1/2″ dark rectangles

One 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ light square

Eight 3-7/8″ x 3-7/8″ background squares

Four 3-7/8″ x 3-7/8″ medium squares (paisley)

Four 3-7/8″ x 3-7/8″ medium squares (tan)

Half Square Triangles (HSTs)

Align block sets, right sides together. A print is paired with a solid block.

Mark each block set diagonally from corner to corner, using a fabric marking pen and ruler.

For greatest accuracy, use a No-Hassle Triangle Gauge. The left side of the gauge is designed to create the 3-1/2″ HST blocks used in this month’s block.

Depress the button on the sliding portion of the gauge and move to the 3-1/2″ HST icon on the left side of the gauge.

Place gauge on the block set, corner to corner. Match corner marks of gauge with corner of block sets. Mark fabric through center of gauge with a fine-point, fabric-marking pen.

The advantage of using the No-Hassle Triangle Gaugeis accuracy. It’s easy to double check that the block set fits within the confines of the gauge. If the block set extends beyond or is shorter, trim or cut another block.

Stitch Half-Square Triangle Block Sets

Attach a 1/4″ patchwork/quilting foot to your machine.

Set machine for a straight stitch, 2.0–2.5 mm in length.

Align foot along one side of the center marked line; stitch a scant 1/4″ from center marked line. Do not cut the threads.

Kiss the next block set to the stitched block and chain stitch from one block to the other.

Share Your Success!

If you are on social sites, let all your friends know you are working on Nancy Zieman’s2017 Fat Quarter Mystery Quilt by tagging your post with the hashtag: #NZBoM. Share your finished blocks with Nancy and her team by emailing them to [email protected].

During the 2015 Quilt Adventure and the 2016 Quilt Extravaganza, I shared three virtual quilt designs made with the month’s single block. This year, I’m changing it up and sharing block color variations of one block. Please note that the fabrics required for color-varied blocks will be slightly different than the original block of the month directions presented.

Take Your Block to the Next Level

Visualize an entire quilt made from this block. Each block will measure 15″ square when sewn into a quilt. The first quilt presented is a the Red Cross block in a traditional on-point setting.Read more on finishing the quilt in my book Fearless Quilting Finishes.

Note from Nancy: Create the dark fabric stars easily by simply adding two triangles to each end of your sashing. Cut the cornerstones from the same dark fabric and instantly, stars will appear. Here’s what the long sashing block, in this case 15-1/2″ x 3-1/2″, looks like:

Notice the subtle differences in these four color variations of the Red Crossblock.

My favorite block is using the tan cross and red center, with corner blocks of red on-point squares with a light background.

MartyJuly 15, 2017

Thanks, Nancy: I really like this Red Cross block! I’ll use it as the only block pattern in a quilt with rectangles of varied hues (perhaps going light to dark in value for the block layout) and with no sashing so the rectangles connect.